Real Estate in Somerville Boro

Home shoppers visiting Somerville Borough, New Jersey will discover a wide spectrum of real estate in this revitalized 2.3 square mile community. Grand Victorians, small-scale ranches and bungalows, mid-century split levels and Colonials are a few of the styles of homes for sale in Somerville, sited amid pocket parks and walking trails. A burst of new development near the Somerville train station has led to sleek luxury apartment buildings and a future 31-acre mixed-use area, due to be completed in 2023; it will offer a collection of townhomes, apartments, retail space, and a new civic center steps from the train. The average starting price of homes for sale in Somerville was $250,000 in August 2020, while the average price of homes sold in Somerville was about $334,600. Reasonable listing prices in the borough have made it popular among younger buyers, while homeowners who have lived in Somerville for 40 or 50 years are also well represented. The recent flurry of retail, restaurant and residential development makes Somerville a sound financial investment as the community becomes a destination for out-of-towners as well as an exciting alternative to suburban living in central New Jersey.

History

Originally settled in 1683, Somerville Borough was incorporated in 1909. It played a role in the Revolutionary War as part of the Middlebrook Revolutionary War encampment of 1778-79 and was named the Somerset County seat in 1799. One of several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the stately 1888 borough hall building which features stained glass windows and elaborate interior woodwork. Widely recognized as the educational and cultural center of the county during the Victorian and Pre-World War II eras when the surrounding towns were mainly agricultural, the borough remains the heart of the county's regional center. In 1940 Somerville hosted the first competitive bicycle race, which was established by bike shop owner Fred Kugler. The Kugler-Anderson memorial tour of Somerville, also known as The Tour of Somerville, is the largest bicycle-racing event in America and occurs every Memorial Day. This competitive 50-mile race attracts hundreds of cyclists from around the globe.

Fun Fact

In past and present times, Somerville has had a vital African American community; one of its most distinguished members was Paul Robeson. He was bass baritone concert artist and stage and film actor who was equally famous for his cultural accomplishments and his political activism. In 1912, he attended Somerville High School where he performed in Julius Caesar and Othello, sang in the chorus, and excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track. Prior to his high school graduation, he won a statewide academic contest for a scholarship to Rutgers and was named class valedictorian. Highly accomplished in many aspects of his life, he is remembered for his worldwide dedication to freedom, peace and equal rights.

Community Life

Somerville has a lively downtown with a NJ Transit train station serving as the catalyst of an expanding transit village. The streets are lined with new construction, re-purposed and rehabilitated buildings, some with colorful murals, giving the town an urban vibe. Foodies are attracted to restaurants with ethnic offerings (think Thai French, Indian, Cuban, sushi and others) as well as the upscale Wolfgang's Steakhouse, cozy Irish pubs and the Vintage Brewing Company, a brew pub located in an old Woolworth's 5 & 10 department store. Eclectic and unusual storefronts include a comic book shop, a dog bakery and vintage video game store. Open air movies, café seating and concerts occur on Division Street which is closed to car traffic. Joggers and bikers take advantage of The Green Seam, a newer 17.5-acre park in the borough.

Education

The Somerville Public School District has three schools. Youngest students attend Van DerVeer Elementary School for pre-kindergarten through grade five, then move onto Somerville Middle School for grades six to eight. Somerville High School also includes students residing in Branchburg. The high school offers 16 Advanced Placement courses, and has won state championships in baseball, football, girls' basketball and bowling. Somerville was named a 2019 Lighthouse School District by the New Jersey Department of Education, an honor that recognizes substantial improvement in academic achievement.

Private schools in Somerville Borough include Immaculate Conception School for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students, and Immaculata High School. Both are co-ed Catholic schools.

Transportation

Somerville is located about 45 miles southwest of New York City, with easy access to several major highways including Routes 22, 28, 206 and 287. NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line provides service from Somerville to New York City, a trip that can range from a little over an hour to 90 minutes, which includes a transfer in Newark. For longer trips, Newark Liberty Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the borough.

Local Attractions

Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage

Experience Colonial life at these adjacent State Historic Sites. General George Washington headquartered at Wallace House during the Revolutionary War, and yes, he slept in this Georgian-style brick mansion. The Old Dutch Parsonage was home to Jacob Hardenberg, one of the founders and the first president of Rutgers University as well as being the ancestral home of the Frelinghuysen family, one of New Jersey's most enduring political dynasties.

Downtown Somerville

The walkable downtown has a variety of international restaurants, cafés, pubs, antique and vintage clothing shops. Closed to vehicular traffic, pedestrian-friendly Division Street is a fun destination for outdoor dining, concerts and seasonal events.

Peters Brook Greenway is a gravel trail that runs along Peters Brook from Mountain Avenue to High Street for a scenic 1 ½ mile hike or bike ride. Stop at Van Fleet Gardens along the way to take in the natural beauty.